How can you make your home more environmentally friendly?

More and more Luxembourg residents are concerned about their impact on the environment and decide to undertake a comprehensive renovation of their property. By using recycled or renewable materials, they are making their homes more environmentally friendly, saving energy all year round and reducing their energy bills. benefit major subsidies of the State.

Here's how you can carry out an eco-friendly renovation and save money at the same time.

Why make your home eco-responsible?

Before diving into the methods and techniques, it's important to understand all the benefits of green renovation. Here they are:

1. Reducing energy costs Well-insulated homes fitted with energy-saving technologies consume less (energy and heating), which translates into lower energy bills. You can save several thousand euros a year after an energy renovation.
2. Adding value to your property An eco-responsible home has a higher market value. Buyers are increasingly sensitive to the energy performance of buildings. By carrying out a complete energy renovation of your property, you can increase its price from +10% to +20%depending on the scale of the renovation.
3. A smaller carbon footprint By reducing your energy consumption and using sustainable materials, you are helping to reduce CO2 emissions and preserve natural resources.
4. Access to major subsidies Luxembourg offers various grants and tax incentives to encourage ecological renovations, which can considerably reduce the initial cost of the work (Klimabonus, Enoprimes, municipal subsidies, super-reduced VAT, etc.).

Top green renovations in Luxembourg

Here are some of the most popular and effective green home renovations.

1. Insulate your outside walls (external thermal insulation, or "ETI")

Insulation is one of the most effective ways of improving a building's energy efficiency. By properly insulating your home, you can reduce your heating requirements by 50 % or more. Here are the top insulation measures:

• External wall insulation: Adding a layer of insulation to the outside of your home's walls helps retain heat in winter and keep cool in summer. Commonly used materials include rock wool, expanded polystyrene and wood-fibre panels.
• Roof insulation : The roof is a major source of heat loss. Insulating it with appropriate materials, such as glass wool or polyurethane insulation boards, can greatly improve your home's energy efficiency.

As you'll have gathered by now, thermal insulation is the first measure you should consider as part of the ecological renovation of your property. Done properly, it can halve your heating consumption, and cut your energy bill by at least 50%.

2. Installing solar panels

Installing solar panels is an excellent way of generating your own electricity from renewable sources. This kind of measure fits in perfectly with the overall ecological renovation of your home. You can consume the electricity generated and resell the surplus.

Here are the options available, depending on your roof and your needs:

• Photovoltaic panels These panels convert sunlight into electricity. You can use this energy to power your home and sell the surplus to the electricity grid.
• Thermal solar panels These systems use solar energy to heat the water in your home, reducing energy consumption for water heating.

What you need to know Although the initial investment may seem significant, the savings on energy bills and the income generated by the resale of electricity can make solar panels profitable in just a few years. Make a simulation of subsidies and prices for your photovoltaic panels.

3. Rainwater harvesting

La rainwater harvesting is an environmentally-friendly method of reducing drinking water consumption. It's well worth considering as part of your green renovation project, especially if you have a garden or space to store a rainwater harvesting tank.

Here's how to set up a rainwater harvesting system:

• Installation Install gutters and tanks to collect rainwater. This water can be used to water plants, wash the car or even flush the toilet, reducing your consumption of drinking water.
• Filtration and storage Make sure the water is properly filtered to avoid contaminants. Storage systems should be adapted to the size of your home and your water requirements.

By using rainwater, you reduce the demand on drinking water supplies and reduce your water footprint. You can use this water to water your garden, wash your car or for any other purpose that does not require drinking water.

4. Installing a complete home automation system

Home automation is a set of automated systems (of the "smart home" type) that can help optimise your home's energy consumption in an intelligent way.

Here are some examples of connected devices you can use to save energy:

• Smart thermostats These devices allow you to control the temperature of your home remotely and automatically adjust the heating to suit your schedule, reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
• Automated lighting Intelligent lighting systems can adjust light intensity according to available natural light and the needs of occupants, thus saving electricity.

With these smart home systems, you can control your home from your smartphone. You can create different scenarios for different uses (saving energy, improving comfort, pre-heating the home, etc.).

5. Use of recycled and renewable materials

The materials you choose for your renovation have a major impact on the environment. Here are 3 categories of materials you can use as part of your eco-friendly renovation:

• Recycled materials Using recycled materials for your renovations, such as recycled wood, recycled concrete or reclaimed building materials, reduces the demand for new raw materials and cuts down on construction waste.
• Renewable materials Opt for renewable materials such as bamboo, cork or linoleum. Not only are these materials durable, they are also often healthier for the environment and the people living in the house.
• Ecological certification Look for materials certified by eco-labels such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for wood or Cradle to Cradle for sustainable construction products.

Ecological renovation: grants and tax incentives

To encourage residents to adopt environmentally-friendly renovation practices, Luxembourg offers various subsidies and tax incentives.

• Klimabonus : This programme offers grants for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, including insulation, solar panels and ecological heating systems.
• Tax credits Tax credits: Homeowners can benefit from tax credits for expenditure on ecological renovations. Check the eligibility criteria with the tax authorities.
• Reduced-rate loans (Klimaprêt) Reduced-rate loans are available to finance ecological renovation projects, enabling homeowners to carry out work without increasing their financial burden.

Tips for eco-responsible renovation

To maximise the benefits of your green renovation, here are a few practical tips:

1. Carry out an energy audit Before starting any work, carry out an energy audit of your home to identify the areas that need improvement.
2. Plan well Draw up a detailed plan of the work to be carried out and the materials to be used. Make sure you choose materials and technologies that are both efficient and durable.
3. Work with certified professionals : Hire professionals with experience and certification in ecological renovation. They'll be able to advise you on best practices and ensure quality implementation.
4. Think long-term While some eco-friendly solutions may represent a higher initial investment, the long-term savings are often well worth it. Think about the sustainability and long-term environmental impact of your choices.

Conclusion

Saving money while respecting the environment is not only possible, it's also good for you and good for the planet..

By choosing sustainable materials, optimising your home's energy efficiency and taking advantage of available grants, you can reduce your energy costs and increase the value of your property.

Concentrate on the essential elements (thermal insulation, home automation, solar panels) and you will have succeeded in the heart of your ecological renovation.

Request a free quote for a quick estimate of the costs and options available to make your home more eco-responsible. Our certified professionals are on hand to offer you personalised advice and detailed estimates.